The CCGs’ plan, which could also end full emergency services at HRI, has caused fury among campaigners.

Jane Gledhill, a former member of Kirklees Council’s health scrutiny committee, said: “It is shocking that the ‘planned care’ provision for the new HRI, which is designed to cover both towns, will only have 120 beds.”

Ms Gledhill, who had opposed the potential closure of a local A&E while on the panel, added: “How can this possibly be sufficient for a joint population of 431,000 (Kirklees) and 203,800 (Calderdale)?”

Under the proposal, HRI will lose full accident and emergency services to focus on planned care.

The existing hospital has a maintainence backlog costing millions of pounds.

Both HRI and Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH) will have urgent care units for non life-threatening cases, while CRH will house Huddersfield’s nearest A&E.

A CCGs spokesperson said: “The changes in Huddersfield should not be considered in isolation, nor should the changes at Calderdale.

“The 120 beds at Huddersfield will be for planned care for everybody in Calderdale and Huddersfield. At Huddersfield we will also need more operating theatres than we do now and the new plans will see the numbers rise from eight to 10.

“All outpatient care and urgent care will continue to be provided at HRI. People can see from the investment in Acre Mills outpatient facility that our commitment to high quality hospital facilities in Huddersfield remains strong.

“The services people use more frequently such as outpatients and urgent care will remain in your local town. The things people use less frequently, but need experts when they get there, such as having a planned operation or being treated in an emergency situation, are being centralised.

“We are doing this so that whenever they are needed, we always have the right people there to treat you. We recognise this will mean people need to travel further for certain services, but we are confident the benefit of the improved service received when you arrive will outweigh the inconvenience of a longer journey.”